title: Time-resolved demagnetization of Co2MnSi observed using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and an ultrafast streak camera.
abstract: The demagnetization dynamics of the Heusler alloy Co(2)MnSi was studied using picosecond time-resolved x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The sample was excited using femtosecond laser pulses. In contrast to the sub-picosecond demagnetization of the metal ferromagnet Ni, substantially slower demagnetization with a time constant of 3.5 ± 0.5 ps was measured. This could be explained by a spin-dependent band gap inhibiting the spin-flip scattering of hot electrons in Co(2)MnSi, which is predicted to be half-metallic. A universal demagnetization time constant was measured across a range of pump power levels.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720-8099, USA. YPOpachich@gmail.com
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Opachich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comin
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bartelt
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmalhorst
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engelhorn
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Risbud
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Padmore